IPL 2022, GT vs DC: Ferguson, Gill star in Gujarat Titans' win over Delhi Capitals

Lockie Ferguson may not steam in like former Kiwi expressman Shane Bond or possess the rhythmic run-up ex-South African pacer Dale Steyn had. His run-up, a gentle amble to the crease, belies the speed at which he going to deliver the ball. What he brings to the mix is a mean bouncer and a quick off-cutter, which on Saturday led to the undoing of Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant and allrounder Axar Patel at Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium. AS IT HAPPENEDThe two wickets Ferguson took in the 15th over had a profound impact. In pursuit of the Titans' 171, Capitals ended 14 runs short, giving the debutants an unbeaten start to their maiden IPL campaign. Ferguson ended with figures of 4/28 off his four overs. Ferguson had enjoyed another double strike earlier in the fourth over, getting rid of dangerous opener Prithvi Shaw and Mandeep Singh. An astute Pandya brought Ferguson back in the 15th over with the match evenly poised, and the New Zealander's second double strike sealed the issue. Pant and Lalit Yadav had resurrected the Capitals' innings from 34/3 with a 61-run fourth-wicket stand before the latter was run-out looking for a non-existent single.

Earlier, asked to bat first, Titans opener Shubman Gill displayed his range of shots in a superbly-composed innings of 84 to take them to 171/6 on a pitch where other batters found it hard to time the ball. The range of shots were mostly on display after the initial 10 overs, the period during which the Capitals had kept the Titans on a leash through some fine bowling and smart captaincy and field placement from Pant. Capitals drew first blood by having Titans' Australian opener Mathew Wade caught for one when the latter attempted a lap over Pant's head